M5 Vanos Units
Discussion
Don't buy one unless you can afford to part with a thousand quid per service. The actual service costs will likely be less but you need to be able to afford to part with this money before considering ownership. A routine Inspection 2 (major) service will be around 600-800 quid.
The Vanos unit is the variable valve timing unit. BMW can't seem to make an M-Power unit that doesn't have a vulnerable Vanos unit. If the car has a BMW warranty (essential, really) the unit will be covered should it fail.
Clutches can't handle much abuse. 700 quid plus to replace. Some engines drink oil; not a problem. Dirty MAF sensor's choke the engine; quick and cheap to fix. Rear anti-roll bar brackets can snap; quick and cheap to fix. Otherwise, generally bomb-proof. Don't be put off by high miles, the car can take them.
>> Edited by hereward on Monday 11th July 16:29
The Vanos unit is the variable valve timing unit. BMW can't seem to make an M-Power unit that doesn't have a vulnerable Vanos unit. If the car has a BMW warranty (essential, really) the unit will be covered should it fail.
Clutches can't handle much abuse. 700 quid plus to replace. Some engines drink oil; not a problem. Dirty MAF sensor's choke the engine; quick and cheap to fix. Rear anti-roll bar brackets can snap; quick and cheap to fix. Otherwise, generally bomb-proof. Don't be put off by high miles, the car can take them.
>> Edited by hereward on Monday 11th July 16:29
What actually is it in the vanos unit that goes?
Is it just electronics, or are there moving parts that do something to the camshaft? How different is VANOS to Toyota's VVTi or Honda's VTEC, and more importantly, why can our 'great' German manufacturers seemingly not engineer anything as well as the Japanese?? Or am I missing something.
How different is vanos to Porsche's variocam (a la 968) - that supposedly fails occasionally too.
If BMW, Mercedes etc. get too complacent with reliability, they will suddenly get a shock when Japan remove the 280bhp limit, and a new 500bhp V10 Lexus arrives that handles properly, and you just know will not have these sorts of issues.
Only those who can afford a newer warrantied car will want a M5 or E55, and by then Lexus may even have a far superior image, and BMW/Merc will be the equivalent of Rover in their twilight years, a shadow of what they once were.
Just like the new Accord & Mazda 6 are threatening the Passat/Mondeo/Vectra class.
Sorry, mini rant
Is it just electronics, or are there moving parts that do something to the camshaft? How different is VANOS to Toyota's VVTi or Honda's VTEC, and more importantly, why can our 'great' German manufacturers seemingly not engineer anything as well as the Japanese?? Or am I missing something.
How different is vanos to Porsche's variocam (a la 968) - that supposedly fails occasionally too.
If BMW, Mercedes etc. get too complacent with reliability, they will suddenly get a shock when Japan remove the 280bhp limit, and a new 500bhp V10 Lexus arrives that handles properly, and you just know will not have these sorts of issues.
Only those who can afford a newer warrantied car will want a M5 or E55, and by then Lexus may even have a far superior image, and BMW/Merc will be the equivalent of Rover in their twilight years, a shadow of what they once were.
Just like the new Accord & Mazda 6 are threatening the Passat/Mondeo/Vectra class.
Sorry, mini rant
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